title: Evaluation of knowledge of the term "nephrology" in a population sample.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The consolidation of nephrology as a medical specialty is relatively new and its denomination does not intuitively reflects its true scope.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the degree of knowledge from a population sample regarding the term "nephrology".
  
  
  METHODS
  We carried out a cross-sectional study in Niterói, RJ, with adult passerby individuals answering to the question "Do you know what nephrology is?". The variables recorded included: gender, age, skin-color, residence, income, educational level and kidney-disease history in the family. p values < 0.05 were considered significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 564 individuals asked, 504 were willing to answer. Of those who refused, 64% were males, 58% caucasians--from whom 85% were aged > 30 years. The mean age among participants was 39 (22-56) years, 49% were males and 56% caucasians. Twenty-eight percent of the interviewees knew the term "nephrology". Their knowledge came from school (39%) and family (30%). Those who knew about the term "nephrology" were older (42 ± 17 vs. 39 ± 17 years, p < 0.05), had higher income (R$ 4,522 vs. R$ 2,934, p < 0.05) and higher education (27% vs. 12% with complete higher education, p < 0.001). They were predominantly caucasians (64% vs. 53%, p = 0.001), and had a higher rate of renal disease in the family (55% vs. 36%, p < 0.001). In the multivariate analysis, associations were maintained for age (OR 1.02; 95% CI 1.00 to 1.03, p = 0.004); higher education (OR 10.60, 95% CI, 4.20 to 26.86, p < 0.001) and kidney disease in the family (OR 2.2, 95% CI, 1.40 to 3.41, p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Only 28% knew the term "nephrology", illustrating the specialty's low penetration. We must strive to popularize this field of medicine aiming at better educating the population concerning the prevention and care of kidney diseases.
authors.affiliation: Fluminense Federal University, Niterói, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Daniel Garbin
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Di Luca
authors.forename: Diogo Costa Leandro
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: de Oliveira
authors.forename: Luis Eduardo Reis
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Guimarães
authors.forename: Gabriel Cruz
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Tamiasso
authors.forename: Lis Bastos Zampier
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Goulart
authors.forename: Maria Luiza Garcia
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Rosa
authors.forename: Jocemir Ronaldo
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Lugon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D057220:Health Literacy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009398:Nephrology; D009626:Terminology as Topic